graybeard wrote:
OK, Wanted to close the loop on this as I promised I would. Tested the returned camera extensively this weekend and the AF AI Servo is working fine with the CF-III default settings in the camera (hot, humid and bright sporting field event.......
Graybeard - your post is encouraging. It shows that Canon may finally have a handle on the situation.
Tom_W, There may be other things effecting other folks. I initially did not have any problems with my AI Servo. I just know they fixed my developed problem with firmware. I hope this was just the prelude to a fix for everyone who has a AI Servo issue. My camera defintely never had the reported Servo wandering/hunting. And I know I shot players coming at me at full tilt. I shot a Sevens Rugby Tourney and I had multiple targets, messy backgrounds and high contrast uniforms in the bright overhead sun. In a Bibble browser image of the raw file I could easily see a red collar thread hanging on a white uniform with no fuzziness. This body is simply amazing. The CPS guy did say other should "sit tight".
Hrow wrote:
I acknowledge that it could be me but I have been shooting for over 30 years, including 15 professionally and I am using a $4500 camera with a $1600 lens on an $800 tripod set-up and can't get a constantly sharp picture of a friggin license plate on a car that isn't moving. If it was the same problem each time I could correct or figure out what the problem is but it keeps changing from super sharp to really funky with the only differences being refocusing, reformatting the card and switching between One Shot and Servo and Single and 10FPS.
rd4tile wrote:
Did you get anything that wasn't super sharp in one shot mode? My mkIII seems pretty flawless there. The rest sounds pretty familiar though.
Until yesterday, everything had been perfect in One Shot, even some pretty tough low light subjects. I was very impressed. Then yesterday, pure crap. It's like everything has gone wacko.
What is interesting is that it handled some of the "harder" shots fine and then other really simple ones are just soft all over. I have frames of people sitting at a table and absolutely nothing in the image is in focus. Even if I totally screwed up and missed their face, something should be sharp somewhere in the frame.
Trying a different approach now. Gave the camera a beer, told it chill out for the night. We'll see if that works.
Sent mine in today, will see what happens. When they are sharp, they are very, very sharp, when they are soft...well, it happens too much. I put the MkIIN on the 400 yesterday and the MkIII on the 70-200, just like I thought, it is the camera. Beautiful when AF is working, but my keeper rate is way down with the MkIII. Will see what Canon does with it.
I'm glad there seems to be a fix because after nearly two weeks of flawless performance mine has up and decided that it doesn't have an f'ing clue as to what to focus on. Started with some erratic behavior while shooting polo on Saturday (posted in an another thread) followed by some very soft images at a party yesterday.
After a comment there, I decided to do some more thorough testing to see if I had developed a back focus issue. It wasn't, but the same tripod based shot of my license plate was significantly sharper in One Shot than in Servo. This led to a couple of hours worth of testing. Over that period of time I have just seen whacky stuff and it seems to be getting worse.
I acknowledge that it could be me but I have been shooting for over 30 years, including 15 professionally and I am using a $4500 camera with a $1600 lens on an $800 tripod set-up and can't get a constantly sharp picture of a friggin license plate on a car that isn't moving. If it was the same problem each time I could correct or figure out what the problem is but it keeps changing from super sharp to really funky with the only differences being refocusing, reformatting the card and switching between One Shot and Servo and Single and 10FPS.
Oh, and it is not just moving targets...I was right up close with an 85 1.2 at 1.2 for some headshots. Center point, no expansion. The thing would 50% of the time grab the wrong eye!!! That is a huge error. Never happened like that before with any other 1D body...at least 50% were just plain wrong. Now that was the clincher for me...going back.
Ok, just to show the point with 85 and how far off the AF will hunt, even on center point, two examples. These are both throw-aways, for either composition or focus. Both at 1.2 very close, the first cropped a bit, the second notl...and yes, this lens will hunt a little making tiny adustments but nothing like this when mounted on other 1D cameras. It is pretty clear what is the focal point is, the leading eye. Here is what is a pretty normal focus (not a keeper for other reasons).
1.
Edited by Shane Canfield on Jul 17, 2007 at 07:02 AM GMT
Here is what I got 50% of the time. The AF jumped all the way across the face to the other eye...kind of amazing really. I even wondered if I was slightly inside the min focus distance of the lens, nope, pulled back, same thing, went in to where it would not focus any more, backed out till it focused, then same thing. But what is getting me it that it was center point, and when I tried the MkIIN, none of this happened.
Shane, When I got my camera back, I tested it first with AF AI Servo single point center with no assist points and bursted at 10 fps at a difficult stationary target (cluster of high contrast lettering on a shinny pop bottle label) and the focus stayed spot on.
I don't think you shot those portraits in One Shot, but did you have any of the focus assist points turned on? Also was your 85 1.2 micro focus adjusted for the MIII? Appologise if I missed those points.
Hi, these were all in One Shot and expansion off, center point only...which is what concerned me. Had they been in servo or had any other points activem then it could see it happening, sort of. No micro adjustments, this lens is perfectly sharp...it is will just stay on point.
Oh, and hope when they return this one that I'll get the same results you have! Just got the FedEx notice saying they received it at the NJ facility. I put CPS stickers all over so hopefully it won't get lost in shuffle.
What you described does look like something wrong with the 1D Mark III..
So far my 1D Mark III works just fine, but my 85/1.2L II does need the -4 micro-adjustment on the DIII body in order to get the dead on focus, no other lens need,,,
Peter, yep, it is the camera...this did not happen when I changed out to the MkIIN at the same shoot. And the AF consistantly got the AF not just wrong, but clearly grabed other point of most contrast, the other eye...no matter the angle, which might explain it the back eye would have just happened to be in the back focused DOF. And I get these inconsistant results with any lens on the camera. Ugh.
Will certainly check back in with you guys after it comes back and I take it out a bit.
I just heard from CPS. They have my camera. They said there is a fix and it will be released tomorrow. I was told I would have mine back by Saturday and it will be working properly. I was told it was firmware, but I was also told that I could not install the firmware myself? We'll see.
The minimum requirement is ownership of two professional bodies and 3 L lens. Rediculous in my opinion. They used to give access to some good FAQs/knowledge base covering omissions in their documentation on their European site. Now you cannot access it unless you are a CPS member. I pay thousands of dollars for a professional camera I should have access to this basic documentation..
btw, when I found this out I found a link to the Lens Work III online for download:
I am sure they will figure this out and remove the link in short order.
Gene
Shane Canfield wrote:
You can call them at 516-328-4837. It is an application process and you have send them a bunch of stuff...they can explain it more fully.
I don't know where you get your information but it is totally wrong. CPS has no website or any special informatoin, for members or otherwise. The website you posted is for Canon Europe and hardly some hidden treasure trove of information that is not totally public now with a simple google search. There is no special info you cannot get anywhere else. They have no equipment requirements although they do ask you what you have, which is to guage what you do with your equipment and what you might need them for. What they do want to see in the application is what you have published and what you earn from the business of photography or photojournalism or some other photography related venture. That you make much or all of your income from photography and that you are a working professional. Hence the name Canon "Professional" Services. Mostly you get equipment loaners and a faster turnaround time on repairs. Owning nice equipment is not the point, it is all about supporting Canon's pro marketplace. I'd suggest getting your facts straight before bashing CPS...it is a good service.
Also CPS does not repair cameras. All service is done by the same Canon techs that service everyone. It does get you to the top of the queue ASAP. Also a CPS rep will follow your repair and help troubleshoot any problems in the repair process. They are not technicians.
GeneO wrote:
The minimum requirement is ownership of two professional bodies and 3 L lens. Rediculous in my opinion. They used to give access to some good FAQs/knowledge base covering omissions in their documentation on their European site. Now you cannot access it unless you are a CPS member. I pay thousands of dollars for a professional camera I should have access to this basic documentation..
btw, when I found this out I found a link to the Lens Work III online for download:
!!! Ain't it the truth... 
...just kidding! I hope because I may be in the same boat.